Frogs and toadstools

As others have recently been finding aliens from outer space on their lawns, Niks and Naks declared that it was probably the right time to go to the forest to try to find some toadstools to make more potions. I think they are running out of fly poison when there are so many frogs to feed...

And the frogs wanted to see the swamp. Oh, well, 6 little companions are manageable at one time - just barely.


The frogs loved a swim in the swamp.






And warming up in the sun on a soft moss path afterwards.



There was a very thin layer of water on dead leaves at one edge of the swamp - and it looks like the frogs are walking on the water! Actually they are quite heavy and sink deep into the water as you can see in the earlier pictures.



It seems to be a bit too early for the alien life forms, but Niks and Naks did find a few.



And as it is a toadstool, of course the frogs want to try sitting on it.



Here is another one, but someone has taken a bite off it!



Konna is trying to look innocent.



There was water on the path in one place. Of course the frogs wanted to swim again.



Some more small toadstools.

Niks: This is too small...

Naks: You can't sit on it...

Niks: Don't even dream of it...




Niks: Here are some small alien life forms...

Naks: Where is your mother ship?

Niks: They don't answer. I think they are of the strong and silent type.

Naks: They don't look very strong to me.

Niks: Better just leave them before they phone home and their mother ship comes to pick them up.


This looks like a troll or a monster but it is actually the roots of a fallen tree.



To prove that the scary looking thing is totally harmless, Niks and Naks used one hanging root as a swing.





Niks & Naks: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

Froggy brunch

What can you do when your pets start inviting their friends over? Well, just give up and arrange a nice Sunday brunch for them...




The frogs are amusing themselves on the trampoline and in the pool...



... while Fomalhaut is tending the grill.



And all frogs love fly kebabs and fresh ditch water.


I don't think the new frogs are going to leave for a long long time if ever.

What is low to the ground and hops?

Fomalhaut has found his frog friends practicing a new sport...


Fomalhaut: A trampoline seems to be a suitable equipment for frogs. They like to hop anyway.



Fomalhaut: But what is this? Frog did not have spots a while ago!



Fomalhaut: And Toad was not blue! There is something strange going on!



Fomalhaut: It looks like Frog and Toad have invited their relatives over!



The new ones are called "Sammakko" which means "Frog" and "Konna" which means "Toad" or "rogue" or "villain". I'm not sure if Konna's name refers to his species or his character...



I think I'm addicted to the Littlest Pet Shop frogs!

Algol and grasses

I have figured out why Algol needs those surprised looking eyes. The little thing is full of wonder, he looks at everything as if he saw it the first time - and mostly it is true. He has not seen much yet. But I hope that sense of wonder never wears out. We all could use some.


On our way to the forest we stopped on the overpass. Algol wanted to rest a little.



This is how the path looks when we enter the forest.



Algol wanted to examine the grasses on the side of the road more closely.

Algol: No one ever pays attention to grasses. They just want to mow the lawn and think that grass is short and green. But in the wild the full grown grasses have the most wonderful shapes. Not as colorful as flowers, but still very pretty.



Algol: Some grasses are very delicate...



Algol: ...like a sprinkling of fairy dust on the side of the road.



Algol: But some are much more robust...



Algol: ...and some have reddish color.


There seems to be a snail invasion in the damp part of the forest.



And of course Algol wanted to touch one...



Here's a view of the forest in the place where spruces take over.



There are huge boulders left in the forest by the ice age.



Though the forest is mostly in natural state, some fallen trees are removed and only stumps remain.




Algol: This could be used as a troll castle, I think.



Algol: But I would not want to live here alone.


If you remember the bench on the side of the road where Deimos posed with the flowers, this is the view from the bench. Unfortunately the trees block most of the view, but you can just see the lake between the trees.



Of course Algol wanted to go down to the lake. It is quite blue this time.



There is some kind of stone pillar with an iron rod sticking from the top, and another one further away. I suppose they must have held some kind of sign long ago.



One more delicate plant. But this is not a grass, it is spore-forming kind.



Here's a view of the path in a place where there are lots of birches.





Algol: This flower smells very sweet.


And on the way home near the overpass we saw some stonecrop that had quite colorful leaves.



Only two stonecrops on this moss patch - and one is green and the other one red!

Algol: That was a long hike. I saw a lot of different things. When will we go the next time? Today or tomorrow?

Clouds

We had more beautiful clouds on Friday evening. The pictures were taken from my balcony at about 11 PM.

Pilvi went oooh and aaaah over the clouds. Her name means "cloud", you know. No wonder pale blue and pink are her favorite colors.